2008 Woodie Awards
Softball team splits games at tournament
By Jennifer Adkins
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
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The Lady Mocs defeated Dartmouth 2-0 in the showcase opener, before continuing to fall to Boston University, 6-4, pick up a 3-2 win from Liberty and finally end in defeat to Penn State, 3-0.
Sophomore pitcher Brooke Loudermilk of Locust Grove, Ga., pitched a complete game against Dartmouth, 1-5, Friday, striking out 14 batters. Catcher Lynleigh Hurndon, McDonough, Ga. sophomore and freshman first baseman Michelle Fuzzard of Huntington Beach, Calif., contributed two RBI singles in the second and third to give the Lady Mocs an early lead and later the win.
Rain forced a suspension of the second game in the showcase against Boston University with UTC leading 3-2 at the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Mocs took the advantage over the Boston Terriers on the first day, holding them to a 3-0 score. But Boston rallied with an RBI double to close in on UTC before the game was taken by the downpour.
The Terriers continued their onslaught the second day with a series of lead-off doubles and sacrificed bunts to steal the advantage and take a 4-3 lead on a Boston single. Boston brought the score to 6-4 with their fifth double of the day and a seventh inning homerun. This was Loudermilk's first defeat in her last five decisions, bringing her to 6-5.
UTC turned the tables once again in the game against Liberty with pitcher Kandice Irwin, Knoxville freshman, pitching four scoreless innings of relief, striking out eight. Then in the tenth inning Hurndon secured the victory for the Lady Mocs with a single. Irwin moved 7-5 in the season as her team looked to the final game against Penn State.
But they were sorely disappointed as Penn State claimed the win in the finale game of the USF Under Armour Showcase. Penn State pitcher Jackie Hill, red-shirt freshman, pitched seven scoreless innings, putting the Nittany Lions on the board first and continuing to carry the team to victory. Loudermilk took the second loss to fall 6-6, allowing two earned runs and striking out six batters.
The Lady Mocs look for more luck in a string of home games that started yesterday against Kent State and No. 2 Alabama in the Chattanooga Showdown.
Thankfully for the Lady Mocs, ten of the next 12 games will be at home. Friday the Lady Mocs return to Jim Frost Stadium to take on UNC Greensboro at 4 p.m. and again Saturday, Mar. 22 at 12 p.m.
